Iranian women seen enjoying stealthy freedom by discarding hijabs in Facebook pictures

Thousands of Iranian women are posting their pictures on social media site Facebook without wearing veils.

The move has ignited a debate about the freedom to wear or not wear the hijab.

According to the Guardian, a Facebook page set up by London-based Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad 10 days ago has attracted more than 130,000 likes, with women across Iran sending their pictures without wearing veils taken in parks, at the seaside and in the streets.

An Iranian woman, Maryam alongside an image showing her behind the wheel, wrote that she feels as if the wind blowing on her face without the veil.

Alinejad said she was not opposed to the hijab - her mother is veiled - but she believed people should have the freedom to choose.

Alinejad added she had been bombarded with messages and pictures since launching Stealthy Freedoms of Iranian Women.

She added she did her best to verify that the pictures were sent from genuine accounts and asked people for permission before publishing them, but did not reveal their full names, the report added.